Semester 1 Review

What Did I Learn?

Technology

     Throughout the semester, I learned how to better use Illustrator so my patterns looked natural and connected together so when putting my pattern onto mockups and a digital layout of my box, it would all fit correctly and perfectly. I have learned so much in the technology department of e-Com. When I was a Freshmen, I could barely use Photoshop, and Premier Pro. I struggled so much, but i eventually learned how to use both of them efficiently. The next year when I was a Sophomore, I hated Illustrator because I didn't know anything. It was if I was starting over again in the learning process. I eventually learned the tools and shortcuts of Illustrator that I now use Illustrator whenever there's Graphic Design involved, even in my daily life. I used to do very small projects in Illustrator that would take a couple hours to about a day, but now I have done so many month long projects in and out of Illustrator that I have the stamina and attention span to dit down and do what I need to get done. My Sophomore year, we did many Photoshop tutorials, and then towards the end, I did a Vector portrait of my grandfather and many other vector portraits. The Photoshop tutorials took minutes, maybe a hour at most. The Vector Portrait took many weeks and hours to do. I had to stay after school to finish the project. I worked so hard and stayed after school so long that my muscles in my hands were sore. While I worked so much in Illustrator, I do need to go back and do some Photoshop work since those skills have been neglected for some time now. 

Collaboration and Communication

     In Graphic Design, I often asked my teacher and the people around me what they thought of my design once I was done. I'd get compliments as well as critiques. I did my best to fix my designs based on the critiques and see what worked best. Everyone around me had amazing ideas to share. In the past, I wasn't very open or vocal about anything. I was mostly introverted, and still introverted to this day. However, thanks to Video and other events outside of e-Com, I am able to fulfill any role needed and am ready to give my opinion or thoughts on something if need be. I am also more open about asking for critiques during random stages of the creating process. I have made great friends because of e-Com not just in the Graphic Design branch, but in the other branches as well. 

     Before I even entered high school, I was very communicative. I always told teachers when I would be absent and e-mail them when I was sick or gone unexpectedly. So, from a professional standpoint, I was communicative, but from a more casual standpoint, not so much. Once I get to know people, I become very open, but team projects were always something I didn't really like. Thanks to e-Com, I have had many opportunities to be open and communicate what needs to be done as well as goof around here and there.

Project Management

      In middle school and even sometimes to this day, I procrastinate quite often, however if I am away from distractions and given "free" time, then I get projects and other things done usually before the deadline. Going through the e-Com program, I have always completed projects and have been aware of deadlines. I have stayed after school for hours sometimes finishing a project. I try to use class time to my advantage and use as much of it as possible to work on a current project. One thing I wish to correct in the future, however, is to stay on task better and not get sidetracked by friends. 

Leadership

     I wouldn't consider myself a leader. In group projects, I fulfill any role that needs to be filled. However, if being a leader or director or head project person is the role that needs to be filled, I'll step up and be the leader. I do have many leadership qualities like listening to others as well as being able to take control of situations. 

Self-Portrait

     Description

     For my first official Video assignment of the 2018-2019 school year, I decided to show the hobbies and activities I like and do on a regular basis with a twist. I'm speaking French because I've been learning the language since fourth grade. I've always been interested in the language, culture and the country of France. This past summer, I did visit France and it's very different than America, but I enjoyed every minute I was there, whether it was at the Eiffel Tower or at a little cafe, watching the people pass by. I wanted to speak in French because it's a language I've spent a lot of time to learn and I wanted to practice my vocabulary by speaking it in the video. Through this video I want people to see how much I know and how I can communicate to others in a foreign language.
     Out of all the other self-portraits I've seen I really liked Jaiden's video where he wrote a poem touching on how movies portray homosexuality and racism and how homosexuality and racism is a deeper problem and real life than what everyone would like to believed. I thought it was really brave of him to do that and inspired me to a better friend and person.

Explain

     I wanted to film against a blank wall with nothing else to look at around me so all the attention goes to me and what I am doing. I also tried to find a bright room so the object and myself are visible and easy to see. As for the framing, I made it so the audience could see examples of what I like that relate to a bigger topic and made sure to keep that example up so the audience has enough time to process and make connections before moving on. There are a ton of examples in the video but one is when I'm talking about watching tv, and that I prefer Phineas and Ferb. All of these connect to what I wanted to show about myself because they are things, activities, and hobbies I like and what make up me. 

Reflect

     I hope through this video people can gain a better understanding of me, my life and what I like. I think I was successful since I got majority of the activities and hobbies I like in the video. I did have some trouble with some filming at one point because my camera roll was full, and wouldn't record. Most of the other troubles I had were forgetting what I was going to say, and not continually talking and the transistion to the other subject was not the greatest, but I think I did okay. One thing I would do differently is add more examples and maybe write some notes or reminders of what I'm going to say so that way there's no waiting. I learned that it's difficult to get everything want across to the audience and not everything you like will make it into the final cut. 

     

Personality Type

     My personality type is INFJ. I’m introvert, intuitive, feeling and judgement. What this means is that I get my energy from being alone, I think of all the possible outcomes, I'm more creative and I think of the future more than I rely on facts. I also think not everything is black and white. I tend to be more loving and caring than logical. I'm also more organized, in control and decisive than  being open and flexible. Some famous people that are like me are Benedict Cumberbatch, Jennifer Connelly, Plato, Mary Wollstonecraft, Mahatma Gandhi, and Thomas Jefferson. There's also some infamous people that have the same personality as me, but everyone has a personality type, so everyone has at least one infamous person with the same personality. 

     For the most part, the description of this personality is fairly close to who I am. There are a few things that are things I wouldn't really call myself, but it is close. For example, being organized. I'm not very organized sometimes, and I call myself an organized mess. I can be messy and unorganized, but there are other times where I am very organized. I also try to be open-minded to discussions or when it comes to making a decision, but not all the time. However, I do like to think of theories and different possibilities. I do think of the future A LOT, and it's usually where i see myself, or the world in five years. I also try to understand other people's though process and why they react the way they do. I find it very interesting. I already noticed some of the things this test told me, so I already knew, and I wouldn't really say it helps me understand myself better. It did make me realize all my habits and tendencies. The activities I do are all the activities INFJ's do. I'm constantly listening to music, I love looking at artwork whether it's my own or others. I also like to study the strokes of the pencil or paintbrush. I love learning about other cultures, writing, reading, and socializing with one or two people. These are all activities INFJ's like to do. When I read that I was in shock because that was the most accurate part of my personality, in my opinion.  

     I think this helps me understand why I tend to take more of a leadership position. I hate the idea of being in charge of a big project, but when the time comes or a problem arises, I tend to lead the group and find possible solutions. I also think of any consequences any possible solution has as well. I guess it's ironic that i'm an introvert, but I also tend to be a leader. I also help people when they are dealing with a tough situation and give them advice. Even if they already tried that, I think of another solution while comforting them. I tend to be shy when I have a new idea because I'm afraid people won't like it. I don't think I've been "misunderstood" in the past because of my personality. The biggest problem I have is when something good happens and I want to tell everyone, but when I walk in the classroom, I don't tell anyone, only my friends. I have had issues with some people in the past. Some people I don't like working with are those who are always talking in class, those who don't care about the work or don't get it done on time, those who are distracted easily or don't pay attention and are constantly saying "What are we doing" or "I don't know what to do". Every once in a while, I'm okay with someone saying that, but not every five minutes. 

      I learned some interesting things about myself like the activities I do. I'm more aware now of my habits and how I interact with people. I also noticed how my personality is rare. It is the least common personality among men and the third least common among women. My personality makes up 2% of the general population. 

   Another part of this test was the LOBG test. This test told me which animal I was most like. The options were Lion, Otter, Beaver, and Golden Retriever. I am most like a golden retriever. This means that i'm very loyal, wanting to be loved by everyone, and have a couple of close friends. I think this fits the best because it fits my personality really well.